Improvement in steam-eng-ine valves



waited tstw parte caa.

Lam-:Paten N 92,052, dated Jimeno, 1869.

' IIHPRQVEMENT IN STEAM-ENGINE VALVES.

'.Ihe Schedule referred. to inv these Lettera Patent and making part of the same.

T o all 'whom it may conce/rn:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HoWLAND, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement-in Steam-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings'are suiicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains, to make and use mysaid invention or improvement without further invention or experinient.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction lfor steam-engines, and more especially referring to devices for alternately supplying vand exhausting the steam from either end ofthe cylinders.

In my improved engine, one or two cylinders may be used, or four may be employed, in which case two cylinders may connect with each of the two cranks, thei shaft being midway betweenthe pairs of cylinders.

The Valves may be so arranged that the cylinders shall take steam from but one end, or, as in the singlecylinder engine, from each end, and inay be placed on the top, at the side, or in any position most convenient.

As illustrated by myV present specification and drawings', the engine consists of two cylinders lying horizontally, .side by side, and intended to operate ou cranks, placed at right angles to each other on the same shaft. The valves are situated beneath the cylinders, and rotate in cylindrical chambers.

The cylindersl and valve-chambers are all cast together,vthe chambers extending entirely across at each end of the cylinders, so that one valveespindle, or shaft will operate the valves for both cylinders at either end. The 'valves vare long, and consist of a number of arms, with open spaces between them, and a disk, or iiange at each end, to keep the steam from escaping. A'lhe steam-chest is situated directly beneath the central portion 'of the cylinders, between thevalvechambers, and the steam passes to the cylinders through the appel-.part of the chambers, and is exhausted into a space beneath the steamchest, through-passages on the opposite side of thechambers from the induction-A ports, these passages being all so situated as to be nearly in a straight line when opened, thus allowing the steam to pass ii'eely, and without a tendency to choke.

Passages are also formed, so that the steam is admitted behind the valves,- thus balancing them.

The valve-spindles, 0 1` shafts, are turned by gearing from the outside, rotating the valves alwaysin one direction, whether the engine turns forward `or backward.

By a peculiar device, the engine may be reversed, by simply withdrawing the valve-spindles a short distance in the direction of their length, this changing the lead of the valves instantly, without changing the direction of their motion.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings for amore complete explanation of 'myinvention- Figure 1 is a side sectional view of one of the cylinders, showing a. cross-section of the valves and chambers. c

Figure 2-is a cross-section of the cylinders, with 1ongitudiual section of valve-chamber Figure 3 is a plan, with part of the cylinders re` moved.

Similar letters of reference, in each of the gures, indicate like parts.

A A are the cylinders of an engine, of which the present drawings show two, cast side by side, and havinga space, B, directly beneath, which `brms the steam-chest, and also servesas a steam-jacket for the cylinders.

which -may have soft packing-'metal in their periphery,

and whichextend across beneath each end of each cylinder. Y

At the ends of the arms are disks, or anges b-b, which it against the ends of the valve-chambers, at eachend, and make them steam-tight.

The spindles, or shafts E E, to which the valves are fastened, and by which they receive motion, extend entirely across beneath each end of the cylinders, as shown in lig. 2, each shaft'carrying the two valves at one end.

G and G are thev steam-ports, entering the cylinder, shown at fig. l; 1

II and H', the passages from the steam-chest; and

J and J are the exhaust-ports, which lead to a chamber, L, beneath the steam-chest, from whence the exhausted steam may escape to the open air, or it may be subjected to condensation, thus giving increased power to the engine.

c c are small passages, opening from the steam-chest directly into the valve-chambers, and passing around to the back ot' the valve, when the steam fills the wholeof the space I, between the arms a, thus making a perfectly-balanced valve. c

The valves receive their motion, through the shafts E, by means of gears M M, whchare turned from the engine-shaft.

In order to reverse the engine, it is necessary to change the lead of the valves, which is effected by means of. a pin, c, which-is fastened to the valve, and enters the oblique slot d, iu the shaft E, fig. 2.

-The shafts are slotted at i, and feathers, in the he valve-chambers 0 C' are situated beneath each gears M M,'cause them to rotate, but allow them to 2. The reversing-mechanism, consisting of the morable shafts E, with the oblique slots d, and the pins e, substantially as herein described.

3. The construction and arrangement of the valves a and passages c c, substantially as described.'

In witness whereof', I have hereunto set my hand and seal. y

WILLIAM H. HOWLAN D. [L. 3.]

\Vitn esses:

JOHN Les BOONE, WILLIAM STANIFORTH. 

